Lantern-holder.



No. 872,052. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. W. B. GHITTENDEN.

LANTERN HOLDER.

APP LIGATION FILED MAR. 23. 1907.

w vbweowo atfomwua position upon its support.

WARD B. OHITTENDEN, OF

MANKATO, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY KIFFE, OF MANKATO,MINNESOTA.

LANTERN-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed March 23. 1907. Serial No. 364.198.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARD B. Onrr'rnnnnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mankato, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Lantern-Holders, of

which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to lantern holders especially designed foruse by conductors and brakemen on freight and other trains, although itwill be found useful in other connections.

In handling freight trains where a caboose is attached to the end ofeach train, the train'men find it necessary to have the cupola of thecaboose dark at night in order to enable them to keep a close watchahead, and they also find it necessary to keep their lanterns lightedand ready for any emergency. To serve these purposes I have designed anovel and simple construction of lantern holder in the form of areceptacle designed to receive the lighted lantern and having a cover orclosure that is automatically moved to closed position when the lanternis inserted therein and is automatically opened when the lantern iswithdrawn from the receptacle.

Briefly and generally stated the invention comprises a receptacledesigned to receive a lantern of ordinary construction, said receptaclehaving a suitable closure and a lantern support or platform within thereceptacle having a suitable connection with the closure, theconstruction and arrangement of parts being such that when the lanternis placed upon the support or platform within the receptacle the closurewill be moved to closed position in order to retain the lightrays andwhen removed the closure will be moved to open position ready to againreceive the lantern.

Further the invention comprises the novel features of construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail and then set forthin the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings which are illustrative of one form of theinvention,Figure 1, is a perspective view of a lantern holderconstructed in accordance with this inven tion, a part of the sidethereof being broken away to show. the lantern support. Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing the closure in closed position. Fig. 3 is acentral vertical section of the holder, showing the lantern in Fig. 4 isa side elevation of the device looking in the direction of the arrowFig. 1.- Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the holder with the closure inopen position.

Referring to the drawing the reference numeral 1, designates areceptacle shown as circular in cross-section, although I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to any particular shape, the showinghere being only by way of example. The receptacle 1, has a closed bottomand an open top as will be seen.

A suitable cover or closure is provided for the receptacle and in thearrangement shown this consists of two opposed arched sections 2, 2pivotally connected at 3, to opposite sides of the receptacle andadapted to swing from open to closed position on said pivots as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawmgs.

Located within the receptacle 1, is a lantern support or platformcomprising a plate 4, having separate rod or other connections 5, withthe two cover or closure sections 2, 2, the rods being connected to thesaid sections at points outside but adjacent the pivots 3. The length ofthe rods 5 is such that the platform or lantern support 4, will benormally elevated above the bottom of the receptacle when the closuresections are swung to open position as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thecombined weight of the platform 4 and rods 5, is slightly less than theweight of the two closure sections 2, 2, or insullieient of themselvesto cause these sections to turn on their pivots 3, to closed position.

The apparatus is used as follows: Assuming the cover sections to be inopen position as shown in Fig. 1, if a lantern (S, is placed upon theplatform or support within the re ceptacle, the weight thereof willlower the platform and through the rods 5, cause the cover sections toturn on their pivots 3, and draw said sections to closed position asclearly shown in Fig. l. Thus it will be seen that the act of placingthe lantern within the receptacle causes the cover to be brought toclosed position in order to close in the light rays.

it will be noted by referring to Figs. 2 and i, that when in closedposition the adjacent edges of the cover sections are slightlyseparated. This is to enable the handle 7 of the lantern to project upthrough the space between the cover sections in ready reach of thetrainmen, it being understood that the said handle will be maintained inan upright position by the sections. WVhen it is desired to Withdraw thelantern from within the receptacle it is only necessary to grasp thehandle and lift the same, whereupon the top of the lantern will strikethe underside of the two cover sections and swing them to open position,at the same time elevating the platform or support 4, in position readyto again receive the lantern.

While I have herein shown and described one form of cover or closure forthe receptacle, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothis form as I am aware that other arrangements may be employed inconnection with a lantern support or platform without departing from thespirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lantern holder, a receptacle having an open top, a closuretherefor, a horizontal support within the receptacle, and a connectionbetween the support and closure.

2. In a lantern holder, a receptacle having an open top, a closuretherefor, and means operable upon the insertion of an object within thereceptacle for moving the closure to closed position.

emcee 3. In a lantern holder, a receptacle having an open top, a pivotedclosure therefor, a horizontal support within the receptacle, and aconnection between said support and closure.

4. In a lantern holder, a receptacle having an open top, a pivotedclosure therefor, and means operable upon the insertion of an objectwithin the receptacle for swinging the closure upon its pivots to closedposition.

5. In a lantern holder, a receptacle open at its upper end, a two-partclosure therefor, a horizontal support within the receptacle, andconnecting means between the support and v the two parts of the closuresaid support acting to hold the closure normally open.

6. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a closuretherefor comprising two arched sections each pivotally connected to thereceptacle and adapted to swing from open to closed position, a lanternsupport within the receptacle, and suitable connec tions between thesaidsupport and closure sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WVARD B. OIIITTENDEN. WVitnesses HARRY KIFFE, W. R. GEDDEs.

